Franklin a



(No Model.)

' F. A. WELLER.

INGANDESGENT ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET.

Patented Mar. 31, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PAT NT E ICE.

FRANKLIN A. lVELLER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO VILLIAM S.HADAVAY, J R, TRUSTEE, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,604, dated March31, 1891. Application filed August 11, 1890. Serial No. 361,752. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN A. WELLER, of Boston, in the county ofSufiolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented 5 certainImprovements in an Electric-Lamp Holder or Socket, of which thefollowing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification.

This invention relates to electric-lam p holders, and has for its objectto facilitate the operation of connecting and disconnecting or otherwiseadjusting the circuit-wires leading from the main line to thelamp-contacts.

It further consists in matters of construc- I tion, all of which arehereinafter fully described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of amechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view with theouter inclosing barrel removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of saidouter barrel. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 isa perspective view of the core-block for holding the contact-plates.Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a verticalsection on line 7 7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the top ofthe hold er.

In carrying out my invention I employ a core-block, as A. Saidcore-block is constructed as shown in Fig. 5. It is composed ofinsulating material and supports the contact plates. Said plates arecomposed of pieces of thin conducting material, (bronze beingpreferred,) and are supported in the core, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Tothis end the core is fitted to receive the contact-strips, as shown. Thecontact a is composed of one piece, while the contact e comprises twopieces and a pin f. Said pin f islocated inathunibs key '22, the keybeing adapted to permit revolving movement for displacing the pin f andbreaking the circuit to the lamp whenever required. To that end thethumb-key has its inner end journaled in the core A and extendsoutwardly through an opening in the shell or casing 4, being alsosupported by the casing, as referred to hereinafter.

In the end of easing 4 is a guide-block 5, composed of insulatingmaterial and secured 5o firmlyin position within the casing, as shown inFig. 8. Said casing 4 is designed to inclose the core A, as shown inFig. 2, and is elongated sufficiently to form a socket for the lampshankto enter behind the core A. It is provided with an opening in itsopposite end and is screw-threaded to receive the end of asupporting-arm or bracket. The block 5 is provided with guide-passages 66, which are preferably enlarged as they approach the opening 7, wherethey are separated by a thin wall of the block 5. Said guide-passagesterminate in small openings through the bottom face of block 5 in linewith the contact-plates a e of the core-block A. The leading-in wires 88, passing in through the opening 7, are divided by the sharp wall ofblock 5 and made to pass, respectively, into the guide-passages 6 6, bywhich theyare guided,to emerge from the block 5, in close line withcontact-plates a e. The wires are then held in position by clampingtheir ends between the block 5 and contact-plates e a. To this end thecore-block A is provided with a central opening, through which is passeda screw 10, the end of which screw enters a suitable screw-threadedopening in block 5. (See Fig.8.) By turning this screw 10 the block 5and core are drawn together. Obviously, therefore, the leading-in wires8 S,if turned suitably, may be clamped and heldbetween said block andcore. To this end the core is cut away, so that one of the leading-inwires will enter and project downwardly along the side of contact-platea, while the otherenters ahole and passes th rough the top ofcontact-plate e intoa recess in core 8 5' A. The wires having been thuscentered and projected forward sufficiently, a partial turn of thecore-block Aon its screw-shaft 10 operates to bend over the ends ofleading-in wires 8 8 and cause them to bear respectively on the contactsa e, as shown in Fig. 7, whereupon a turn of the screw 10 draws upwardlythe core A and thus clamps and holds the leading-in wires between theblock 5 and contiguous faces of contacts a e.

To better facilitate the work of clamping in the wires 8 S, alateral-view opening 12 is -made through the shell of easing 4. (SeeFig. 2 Through this opening the workman is enabled to manipulate theworks and parts. Ico Said opening 12 further permits the thumbkey to belifted and taken out to allow the.

core A to be withdrawn from the casing whenever required.

The casing 4 is provided with an outer jacket 15, adapted to turnloosely on the easing 4. Said jacket is provided with an opening 20,Fig. This jacket is designed for closing the opening 12 of the casin Tothat end it is turned on the casing at, so that the whole side of thejacket lies over the opening 12, as in Fig. 1. In this position it willbe observed that the edges of the casing 4: and the jacket 15 lap by andform a hearing for the thumb-key, as shown. Obviously, when it isdesired to look or reach through the opening 12, it is only necessary toturn the jacket 15 until its opening registers with the opening 12.

It Will be understood that the con tact-plates a e terminate at theirbottom ends in flat yielding projections below the core A and inposition to contact with the terminals of the lamp, all in the customaryand usual manner.

I claim- 1. In a holder or socket for electric lamps, the combination,with the internal casing containing the contacts and provided with anopening through its walls to the inner mechanism, of the outer-jacket orcasing surrounding the inner casing, movable thereon, and having anopening registering with the opening therein, and the key journaled inthe inner casing and projecting through the outer casing, substantiallyas described.

In an elcctric-lamp holder or socket, the combination, with the internalcasing 0011' taining the contacts and provided with an opening throughits walls to the inner mechanism, of the outer jacket orcasingsurrounding the inner casing, movable thereon, and having anopening registering with the opening therein, and the key journaled inthe inner casing and projecting through said opening in the outercasing, substantially as de scribed.

3. In an electric-lamp holder or socket, the combination, with thecentral core-block carrying the contacts, the guide-block having theapertures therein for the leading-in wires, and the casing surroundingsaid blocks, of the screw passing through the core-block and engagingthe guide-block, and the thu mbkey journaled in the core-block andcasing, substantially as described.

4B. In an electric-lamp holder or socket, the combination, with thecentral core-block, the contacts thereon having shoulders, with adjacentspaces into which the ends of the leading-in wires may project beyondthe contacts, and the guide-block having the apertures therein for theleading-in wires, of the independent screw uniting said blocks fordrawing them toward each other, whereby the ends of the leading-in wiresmay be passed be yond the faces of the contacts, the blocks turned tobend the wires over said shoulders, and finally the screw tightened toclamp them in contact, substantially as described.

Signed at Boston, l\[assachusett-s, this 19th day of February, A. D.1800.

FRANKLIN A. WELLER. Witnesses:

E. IIAMILL, C. 13. 'IUTTLE.

